Monday, April 17 2006 14:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Kathmandu: Nepal's Government said it is deploying armed escorts for trucks carrying food into Kathmandu as fresh demonstrations broke out today (Apr 17, 2006) in the capital, besieged by a general strike called to demand a return to democracy following the king's seizure of power. The royal government also offered cash incentives to drivers who defy the strike in Katmandu, where supplies of essential items were running low and new street demonstrations broke out today.

The general strike, organized by opposition political parties since April 6, has forced most vehicles off the highways and kept markets closed in many cities across the country.

King Gyanendra fired the democratic government and seized power in February 2005, saying he needed control to restore political order and end a communist insurgency that has killed nearly 13,000 people in the past decade.

The communist rebels are now backing a campaign, launched by a coalition of the country's major political parties, for a return to democracy. Many fear that breaking the strike would draw reprisals from the guerrillas.

"We will provide armed escorts to trucks transporting essential goods to Katmandu," said Dipendra Thapa, secretary at the ministry of works and transport.

The Government also announced a US$ 48 incentive paymentfor truck drivers who break the strike and haul food, fuel and other essentials on Nepal's highways, the only means of transportation in much of the Himalayan kingdom.